Bubble deck



.May 25, 1943. Y v- -YJ. A. GIBB u 1 2,320,073

BUBBLE'DECK Filed July :51, 1941 4.sheets-*shew 1 Lf @y ci. C..

o Q. L; Q Q- J. A. GIBB y BUBBLEV DECK May 25, 1943.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3l, 1941 ,A mll.l\ L fvwm/,M H.; i 3 a 2 w H- @w 3 o INVENTOR n EL May 25,1943. Y J, G1HB 2,320,073

BUBBLE DECK -Filed July 31, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR B ,f Y 1 f:

J. A. GIBB 2,320,073

BUBBLE DECK v Filed July 51, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 25, 1943.

lNvENToR Patented May 25, 1943 UNITED Smfriisv PATENTOFFICE Jol-1n A. Gibb,`Newy Rochelle, Y., assignor to The Lummus Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of` Delaware .imputation July 31, 1941seia1N0. 404,796

claims. (ci. V:ns1-114) The present invention relates to improvements in bubbl'decks or trays for bubble columns and the like.v

The use of bubble decks or trays in a Vfrac-- tionating column-is well known inthe art.Y Generally speaking, they Aare arranged transversely across the column in spaced relation and in 'communication with one anotherso that the Aliquid undergoing fractionationcan flow across each deck and downwardly to the deck below, The downwardly flowing liquid collects on the respective bubble decks in its passage through the column and is contacted counter-currently with ascending vapors.v

The general arrangement with respect to the Y the segments ofbubble trays to their supporting at thepsame time, a liquid-tight seal is formed Vbeams so that the segments may be installed and removed with aminimum of effort and sothat,

of preferred forms of embodiment thereof taken in connection with the attached drawings, `-in whicht. Y Y e Y Fig. l is a horizontal section through' a column showing in planv a bubbletray constructionrcon-A templated by the present invention;

number and location of the bubble trays as Well as the number of risers, bubble caps, and downpipes on the respective decks is largely dependent upon the characteristics` of the given liquid mix ture undergoing fractionation. Ordinarily the decks are fabricated in oneV piece although in very large'columns it has been customary to use sectional decks to facilitateinsertion of the decks in the column. With such sectional decks considerable difficulty arises in4 arranging the n'ecessaryrrisers, caps, etc., within the confines of the particular segments or. sections. ..Necessarily, Y

large sections varying in size and conforming to the shape of the particular column have to be used, and these are of'no use in columns of different diameter. i l V A My invention contemplates overcoming these and other difficulties by thesimple expedient of Another objectof myV invention ifsfto providefa key piece for a bubble plate or tray, which piece has` inte'gral risers and'provision for caps and which has such a configuration that a 'plurality 'of such pieces canbejass'embled into a general pattern arrangementthat substantiallyf covers thefvaporliquid contact varea of the tray -re- Y gardless ofthe column lsize aridiwith'thelminimum of marginal filler space( A specific object of my invention is `thefprovision of a key piece for a bubble tray,which Vpiece has a shape'in whichthe conflgurationof 1 the sides conforms to the'pitch ofthe risers carried by the'key'piece. e f

A further object 'of my invention is the provision of a simpliedconstruction forsecuring Fig. 2 is; avertical sectional view'through the column, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, `showing several bubble platesj and the supporting transverse beam members therefor; i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section, taken Von the line 3-3 of Fig.l 1, illustratingdetails of construction of the trayincludingv the bubble capfrisers and the supporting and fastening means for the component parts` of the tray;

Fig. 4 is angenla'rged vertical section, taken on theline 4--74 of Fig'. 1, illustrating -the'sealing strips used for closing'the rjoints'between adja;

cent 'sections not incontact withthe beam mem- Fig.'5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly "showing in plan a'modified construction of the Vbubble'tray; Fig. `8 is an enlargedvertical sectional taken on -the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.;

View

Fig. 9 isan enlarged detail view; partly in section 'and partly in elevation, taken along the line -9-9.of. Fig. '7 and showing the supporting and fasteningmeansfor the bubble deck sections; z Fig. 10 is a plan view, with parts broken away,

`of afurthermo'dication of the bubble deck showninFig.1;and y Fig.,11 isian enlarged Iverticalsectional view vtakenon the line lI-l l, ofFig.' l0.Y

- In accordance with one preferred form ofem- Abodiment of my invention, the bubble tower l0 is provided with a plurality of transversely Vsupported bubble trays generally indicated at I2, which aresuitably spaced from .one another 'in the` customary` manner. 4Each of these trays I2 is primarilycomposedofa plurality of key piecesv or segments I I, which may be supported by transverse beam members It suitably secured to the wall of `the tower. In addition, supplemental pieces Il are provided to nll out the circular arrangement and to complete the tray; such supplementalpieces rest in part on angularbrackets or rings il, which in turn are secured 'to the wall of the tower. i

I have determined that la particular geometry of the key pieces will ,permit the use of a large" number oi' identical pieces to substantially cover the bubble cap or vapor-liquid contact area `relgardless of the diameter of the tower;4 'I'his feature iswithin the limits of tower in which segmental trays are necessary andrfor purposes e of example, may be' considered v. particularly ap plicable to trays having a' diameter greater than a,sao,ovs

plete unit identical to all-ther units of the same type. When the column is round. theperiph'e'ral segmental pieces generally indicated at IlV are used; eeen cf these units is is reietiveiy smeii and may contain one or more complete risers'and has the desired configuration on one side to cocolumn, is also shown. i The segments' of thistype segments Yover the major portion oi the areaof.

six to eight feet.' Underenormel circumstances, Y r

the diillculties in casting or otherwise fabricating an integral tray of a size larger than this are such that it is more economical to provide transverse beamsand segmental plates.

-Each of the segments il, which I consider key pieces, is provided with integral risers lla, which in turn support the bubble caps by means of the typical spider arrangement 2|. This construction isfmore particularly shownv in Fig. 3.

Each of these key pieces, furthermore, preferably contains at least four and customarily six risers intwo parallel rows of three each although it may also contain a greater number of risers. It is obvious that the six risers are also arranged in three parallel rows of two each.

Opposite sides of the segments are parallel and straight so that the segments may be placed adjacent one another with a minimum of space between the respective segments'. I have found, however, that the mosteifective assembly ofauch` segments requires an angularity of each segment (the angle formed by the intersection of two of the sides thereof) equal tothe pitch of the bubble caps and risers thereon and that the respective sides of each segment be also parallel'to the respective `rowsof bubblecaps thereon.` As is. well known, it is customary to provide a particular pitchof the caps so that the most effective positioning of the caps on the deck and the most effective contact between the vapor and the liquid maybeobtained.

' 'Ihe pitch of the caps and risers (which ar concentrically positioned beneath the caps) is the angular relationship between a line drawn through the .centersl of twoadjacent caps, one -in each of two parallel rows, anda line through the centers of the caps in either of vthe rows. As

shown in the drawings, the angular relationship may be either acute or obtuse; and in this par- 'a tray and then to providejoniy .the similiy specials, j cast sectionsfor the filler pieces. With auch an arrangement, it is possible to standardize to a s large extent the partsfor a tray, and the specialipieces are limited in numberas well as in size. f The key pieces Il and the marginal pieces Il are conveniently secured to the supporting beams I6 and t-the marginal ring o'r iiange Il to for'm'a liquid-tight construction.- As shown in Fig. `il, a

marginal piece i8 having the riser.v Ilais suitably Y secured to the flange f I9 by a ciampmember 2l' 1' provided with ariv adjustable nut 2l for the marginalpiece to theflange. VIt necessary Y shim or gasket 2l maybevused for leveling -pur- 'I'he tray pieces may be secured to thebe'ama IVI by suitable studs 29 as shown in Fig. 3.. These project inte eitabie recesses :sa in the beam A and extend upwardly into the spacebetween adf jacent Vsegments so that the lock nut andwasher assembly 28 will engage theedges ot the two segments Il.vr A nut 28a on the lower end of each stud engages 'beam li as indicated. Aperture; e 28h in the web of each beam are'provlded so that nut 28a mayr'be convenientlyV screwed 'onto the stud. Shimsor gasketsv 21a may'also hemd mh this location.

, Adjacent edgescfthepieccefi4, nctincciitect withthe transverse beams or'- supportingring, are sealed by Aplates vand accompanying gaskets '3 1 which extend Vdi ."gonally of thebeams fs' I9 as shown in Fig. 4. y

As a modification ofthe fastening means :just described, asimplified form, ghownmlmm's .I

and 6, comprises a linkage'composedzof a linkt' having upper and lower longitudinally arranged rectangular slots Il. One end -ofAthelink Itis' adapted to be inserted in theopening be:

tween lthe adjacent edges of thepi'eces il, and

the other endrextends intoa recess orwell i2"- c'enter of the; are especially suitablefor use in columns 0i'A different diameters'inasmuch as it is possible to employ the typical key .l

formed in the beam I6, which 'is provided.V with aperture :za mite web in' ccmm'unicetica with recess 32.. Withfthe use of taperedpins ci' wedges ll, generally Vrectangular in cross-section,`

' the link Il can be locked tightly il in armanner similar tovthat of the studrbolt'nf*v also, the adjacent edges ofthe plecerllfja're forced against the supportirigupper yiniriaceoithe beam l0 thereby. .This construction provides a verysimple expedient for securingthe segmenY-I tei piecestc the teem; 'and greatly mc'iiiteteel f the initieiinsteucticn cf the trays u wcli u thenready removal for cleaning purposes.'V

The liquid passes from-onetrayt'oanothetf ticular case the caps are equidistantly spaced with their centers at the apices o! equilateral triangles. The acute angle of-the pitch in this case is then .It will be apparent from the drawings that the bubble caps are placed in parallel rows but are also positioned in staggered relation as to each other. As is well'known, the spacing ofthe caps depends on the diameter oi the' caps andthe desired clearance space for vaporii` therebetween.' Square pitch arrangement means an angularV relationship of 902V Other pitches for special conditions are also-possible. Y

4As will'be more particularly'seen by an inspection of Fig. 1, the respective segments or key pieces .I4 extendthroughout the major area of the tray, and each segment constitutes a corri-v through apron-type' dcwnpipes u preferably di... POSed dlametricelly opposite the peint of inem; duction of the vliquid onto the tray. This', arrange; .A

A vasadors ment causes the liquid to now across the'respec- 'uve trays in s zigzag fashion 'in itsdescent' through the tower. The downpipes "are lformed by the adjacent shell wall and the aprons Il de- A pending from the .marginal section 'of the` trayv The upper end of the f and supported thereby.

f aprons 'Il extends somewhatfabove the tray Iiloor f andconstitutes a weir lfor controlling the liquid levell on thev tray. Theaprons also extend below the liquid level on the next lower tray to prevent blowthrough of the rising vapors.

Modified arrangements 'of the key pieces to form variations inthe general design ot the tray "1 constructionv contemplated. byf the present in,-v i

vention yareshown in'lllgs.l '7 andilO. With reference tothese'ngu'res, "it will be noted that the beams :are spaced `further apart and that the placement of thepieces thereon is such that ythey and/or Vform or the marginal pieces.

" With reference more particularly to lig. '7, it

will. be noted vthat the tray construction Vshown therein contemplates the location. of the beams .43 so thatthe segmental spieces 44i. are supported lengthwise therebetween.- Special marginal pieces 48 have one of their sides formed on sub.-V

stantially the same curvature 'as thatyof the wall l of the column Ill. so as tot closely thereagainst. lAlthough the size loflthe risers in this case is slightly greater than that or the risers contained on key pieces I4, the pitch oi the risers onythe key-pieces" is the same as that ofthe risers on thekey pieces Il. Additional filler pieces such as 48 may be required in this arrangement. vin addition, relatively at arcuate sections l! with'- out risers and caps may be used to plfQvide for the downflowof the' liquid; lit Ishould be noted that one of these sections on each deck isproV vided with the downpipe 50. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art to aord Ia sealing contact with the perimeter or marginal pieces or the tray. Y

'In Figs.V 10 and llgthe invention is shown as embodied in-a bubble deck of the double crossllow type. As illustrated, 'the downpipe 00 is located l.centrally oi' the column on one deck be tween two of the beams and extends substantially across column. In the'present installation' the column may be of smaller diameter than thosefpreviously described, and the number `of Thisconstruction vpermits the use of longer key pieces, wider spacing oithe beams 82, and the use 'o i' large risers and bubble'caps.

soontained on each. key piece .Il may .beincreased to four instead oi' three per row.V

lrtisgthus obvious that the assembly of ,tnedecks'may be in accordance-with any process laxrangement and that` little variation is required in 2 the geometry ofthe sections or segments compos ing theninerent Aelites .and/or types of bubble decks. Y By using key pieces having substantially .the same geometry. Iam able to manufacture bubble decks closer to astandardized pattern .thanfheretofore obtainable. It is also obvious that, by Vmaking thekey pieces of relatively small.

dimensions, `I may hold them to closer tolerances and thereby avoid the necessity` ot machining operations tobring the parts within the permitted manufacturing'tolerances. Furthermore, by the expedient'use ofthe shims and sealing plates wherever required, I may easil'y preservethe level ofthe decks. There is also provided very simplev means for compensating'forthei degree of out-ofroundness of the tower by adjustmento! the space between thepieces constituting a given deck.

- Although no means have been shown to retain 45'.,leastdthrce bubble cap or vapor risers, and onev4 the bubble caps in position, itwillfbe understood thatany usual type may be'used.

It will be appreciated that the standard key pieces; segments, plates, or umts comprising each.v

bubble deck or tray4 may be made in any con- A venient'polygonalshape as desired. Triangular pieces maybe usedir` they are round suitable `in such 'case eachA piece preferably will contain at aide of each piece will rest on a supporting beam that the bubble deck shown inA Fig. I is of the cross-now type. As is customary, weir Il (see Fig. 8) is provided to maintain a predetermined depth of liquid on the tray, and weir lla is provided v`ti)- produc'e an even" distribution oi the .liquid thereonto.

In the present modification, as well the one shown in Fig. 10, th supporting beams-I3 `are somewhat different cross-section from the beams Il shown inlFigs. 2 to 6.A It will be noted that `each ofthe beams l; is provided with a p air l y of longitudinally disposed-ledges a along its top `\o r supporting surface, which ledges are designed to accommodate the ends ofthe plates l2 that join-the unsupportedsides ofthe key pieces 4l. The ledges 43a do vnot give any support to .the

dropping o! theplates 5 2 to the deck below when the fastening. means generally indicated at Il is removed.

with the opposite :apex resting on the adjoining supporting beam. In* practice, a piece having the :shape'of an equllateral trianglewill be most sat-4 isfactory. Other larger polygonal pieces such as v r .hexagonal units mayalso be used.

The shape ot the standard key pieces may be anyth'atis desired and is not to be limited to 'equiangular polygons. Particularly in the case of quads-angular or quadrilateral pieces, it is con# venientrto utilize one shaped in the form of a parallelogram', the 'angularity between the op- 4plates 5,2, but they'prevent the displacement or i Thisfastening means preferably comprises a linkage lcomposed vof a rectangularlink pie'eeli v adapted tovaccommodate a wedge il as shown in Fig. 9. The beams 43 are bolted to brackets .Il

secured 'to thewall of the column I0. It will be posite pairs of parallel sides of which is preterably 80.. In such case. when two or more rows o! vapor risers are contained ony each piece, they may be conveniently arranged -on equilateral. triangular centers, the arrangement which is generally employed because of its space-saving and other advantageous featuresr It will be found 'that each piece, ot whatever shape, should oontain at least two and more preferably threeva# por risers; in the case of 4a quadrangularly shaped piece, these 'risers preferably be arranged 70 in one row. It will also be found. however,` that, in practice, the bubble Vcap risers are more preterably arranged in at least two rows on each quadappreciatedthatvery little, if any.l of the weight y of the bubble tray is carried by the angle ring I9- and that, theprincipal function ofthe ring Itisransular piece.

Various modiilcations of the invention suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, but it that includes a link provided with two spaced longitudinal apertures, said link extending downwardly into said recess and upwardly into the space between the adjacent |key pieces, a wedge member engaging the upper aperture of said link and forcing the key pieces into engagement with the beam, and a second wedge member engaging the aperture in the web of said beam and the lower aperture of said link and foicingthe beam into engagement with the key pieces.

2. A. bubble deck construction comprising a bubble tray, the major part of the area of which consists of key pieces having a standardized configuration, beams for supporting the keyfpieces, and means for locking adjacent key piecesrto the supporting beams, each of `said beams being provided with a recess in its upper surface and an aperture in its web in communication with said recess, said locking means comprising aglinkage that includes .t stud extending downwardly into said recess and upwardly into `the space between the adjacent key pieces, said stud being vthreaded at both of its ends, a nut engaging the upper end of said stud and forcing the key pieces into engagement with the beam, and a second nut en.- gaging the lower end vof said stud and positioned in theaperture Vin the web of said beam `and fore? ing the beam into engagement wththe key piecesi 3, Astandard bubble tray segment comprising" a quadrangular plate member having parallel rows of bubble cap risers thereon in staggered relation, opposite sides of said member'belngl'respectively parallel to each other and to the re-y spective rows ofi risers thereon, one of the .angles formed by the intersection of two of the sides being acute, the angularity of the member and the pitch of the risers being equal. Y

4. The standard bubble tray segment Ias claimed in claim 3, in which the acute angle is 5. A circular sectional bubble Vtray comprising primarily a plurality of standard key pieces, each piece being a quadrangular plate memberhaving parallel rows of bubble cap risers thereon in staggered relation, opposite sides of said member being respectively parallel to each other and to the respective rows of risers t hereon,`one of the angles formedby the intersection of two o! the sides being acute, the angularity of the member and the pitch of the risers beingrequal, and a plurality of peripheral pieces, each shaped at its outer edge to t the circumference of the tray and shaped alongits other edgesto t the standard key pieces, certain of said peripheral pieces having at least one bubble capriser thereon.l

JOHN vAgca-131e'. 

